Happy Thanksgiving!!

We started a new tradition this year; one of the bowls set on the table was our Lawlor gratitude bowl. The kids spent the day writing down things they were thankful for on little notecards and dropping them in the bowl.

They wrote really cute things, like math and rainbows. They also wrote the really important things, like family, scriptures, and our Savior.

This was my first Thanksgiving dinner that I planned, prepared and served to my family. It was a challenge, but it turned out so great! I had a lot of helpers in the kitchen, too.

Look at how great this bird turned out! Even the white meat on top was juicy!!

Allow me to introduce our master carver, Austin!!! Whoo hoo!!

I made the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, sweet corn, fresh texas white rolls, jello, fruit salad, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, olives... well those last few things I bought and used a can opener before serving, but it all came together very well!

We get to do it all again tomorrow with Austin's family. That's what I'm most thankful for this year, is my family. I wouldn't be where I am today without them. Thanks guys, I love you!

Today I'm thankful for...

.... google. And the internet in general. Tomorrow I'm preparing my first Thanksgiving meal, from scratch, by myself for just my family. We're having an extended family thanksgiving dinner on Friday, but since we all have Thursday off work and school I thought I'd do one just for us. Without google, I wouldn't know how to prepare and cook a turkey. I found a great recipe for sweet potatoes, and I think I have the day timed so that everything comes out warm at the same time. I found great websites with recipes, tips, planning guides, and everything a beginner could possibly need to make thanksgiving great. Without google, I would have kept my mom on speaker phone for two days.

Today I'm thankful for...

... my kids. They are such a blessing to me. I know they are children of God and he has entrusted them to me in mortality. They are spiritual beings with a divine purpose. They also crack me up on a daily basis. I asked Grace this morning if her pullup was dry from overnight, and she said it's melting and melting. I take that as a 'no.' Ben spent the morning making up his own math problems, and the answer to all of them was 65. Ember is just my little diva/drama queen who likes to control every situation, like whether or not she was going to allow Ben to eat his breakfast with the light on this morning. She was trying to save energy. I love my kids so much, and I don't have the time or space to describe how much.

Today I'm thankful for...

.... clouds. It's a cloudy day here in Arizona, and it's supposed to rain by Thanksgiving. Rain is one of my favorite things. I realize a cloudy day can be seen as depressing by some people, but those people don't live in a state with sunshine 300+ days a year. It's a great day to snuggle up with a book and a blanket, to stay inside and get cozy. It softens all the hard edges of the world, it changes the colors on trees and flowers, and it lessens my chance of getting a sunburn just walking across a parking lot. I really love clouds, especially the kind that bring rain. An overcast day cheers me up; I know, I'm a study in opposites.

Birthday gift

These are the beautiful flowers my husband gave me this morning for my birthday. They smell incredible, too! Thanks Austin!

Birthday Video--Thoughts from the kids

Happy birthday, Jill.
Here is your present for this year.....

Today I'm thankful for...

... crayons. Yes, crayons. It may sound weird, but for all you moms out there that have ever received homemade birthday cards made out of construction paper and crayons then you know what I'm talking about. My kids made me some beautiful birthday cards, but they make me beautiful things every day. And one of my favorite things to do is open a brand new box of crayons where they're all still sharp and none are broken and then color for hours with my three year old. When Austin was on his mission and I was writing him weekly letters, I used to color him pictures with crayons and throw them in with the letter. They make me feel young, creative, hopeful, cheerful, and all kinds of other things I can't find the right words for right now. Yay crayons!

Today I'm thankful for...

.... naps. I think the reasons why are clear to everyone, grownups and kids alike. Sleeping in the middle of the day like you're getting away with something; awesome.

Twilight!!

I went to the midnight show for Twilight last night with a couple of friends, and I have a few observations. About myself, and about the movie. First; I'm so glad I'm not a teenager anymore. Enjoying these books and going to the midnight show did make me feel young again, but I'm glad I'll never have to repeat that part of my life. And there were way too many girls at that theater that were out past their bedtime! Of course, I completely understand their enthusiasm.

Second; the movie was fantastic, but the book was better. At first I thought that Robert Pattison was a horrible choice for Edward, but he had really grown on me by the end of the movie. Of course the Edward that we all created in our imaginations just can't be duplicated in real life. It's those unrealistic expectations! :) And Jasper was kinda creepy, he constantly looked like he was going to throw up or scream. Alice was perfect, Rosalie wasn't beautiful enough, Emmet was just like I imagined him, and Bella & Charlie were cast well too. It's just hard to bring such distinctive, descriptive characters to real life. And did everyone notice Stephenie Meyer eating at the diner? Yay!

The meadow scene was a HUGE disappointment, that is my only major complaint. It's one of the greatest, most romantic scenes in the book and it was turned into something moody, angry, and tense. Where was the romance? And the "sparkle" just didn't cut it. Other than that, I thoroughly enojoyed the movie and will probably go see it again. After I get a little sleep.

Today I'm thankful for Twilight. ;)

Oh... one more thing... I was on channel 10 news last night. We were standing next to some "super fans" in line, and they got on camera. I was the one in the t-shirt that says "What do you mean Edward isn't real?"

Today I'm thankful for...

... technology. Computers, cell phones, digital cameras, online banking, debit cards, all things electronic and gadgety. (I've heard my husband use that word, I know it's valid). Where would we be without our ability to communicate in a flash? I could never have been a pioneer, I like the convenience and comfort of the 21st century.

THIS is our son.

Watch this clip... if you know my family, tell me that chicken doesn't remind you of a certain six year old.... "What are we talkin' about?"

Chicken Little

I'm just sayin'....

This is one of our family mantra's. It is said 5 or 6 times at dinner time alone. The kids say it, the adults say it, the baby says it... if our dogs could speak, here's what they'd say. "I had to poop and you weren't there to take me outside. I'm just sayin'..." Here's a cool definition I found online:

"It's an effort to deflect anger and distrust generated by something you said in good faith and with good intentions. "I'm not accusing, I'm not criticizing... I'm just sayin'."

Anyone else hear this phrase a lot in their homes? I'm just sayin'...

Today I'm thankful for...

... blogspot! I'm able to keep a journal, keep up with family history, stay in touch with friends, family & neighbors that I hardly talk to otherwise, recover family pictures that were lost on my stinking laptop, and it's totally free and easy to do! I'm addicted to blogging.

Gratitude

I haven't been in a very grateful mood this past week, and it's been difficult for me to come up with things I'm thankful for. That's when it occured to me that I need to be thankful for my husband, because he's been putting up with my pity party for 11 1/2 years now. He makes sure the kids eat, he bathes them and puts them to bed on my bad nights, he helps with laundry and dishes, he tries to give me extra time to sleep whenever he can manage it, and he prays for me. That's obviously the short list; last year for his birthday I made a DVD called '101 Things I Love About You' and it ended up having MORE than 101 things. I am a very lucky woman, and I'm very thankful for my husband.

Today I'm thankful for...

... puppies. It took me all day to think of something, because it's been one of those days, but who isn't thankful for puppies? They're awesome in general, but I'm thinking of mine specifically. Lady, who is a 3 year old chihuahua, and Elphie, who is a 6 month old Boston Terrier. They love me unconditionally, they are always happy to see me, they never talk back or complain about what's for dinner, they never criticize me for my mistakes and always forgive me when I make them, and they are just so darn cute!